Henry gold water



H. GOLDWATER.

Patented July 19, 1887.

N. PETERS. PnnmLixhogmpmr. washmgmn. D. C.

(No Model.)

APPARATUS FOR REPINIVNG ILLUMINATING AND LUBRICATING OILS. No. 366,720.

UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.,

HENRY GOLDWATER, OF NEV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO JAMES TYROLER, OF SAME PLACE.

'APPARATUS FOR REFINING ILLUMINATING AND LUBRICATING OILS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 366,720, dated July 19, 1887.

A pplicntion filed May 6, 1886. Serial No. 201,344. (No model.)

To all whom it pray concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY GoLDwATER, of the city and county of New York, in the State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Refining Illuminating and Lubricating Oils from Crude Petroleum, of which the following is a specilication.

Letters Patent issued to me February 2,1886, No. 325,281, set forth an apparatus in which certain novel provisions are made for arresting and returning unevaporated particles which are carried up with the light vapor. Such are usually of a denser or less volatile grade of oil; but the oil thus arrested and returned differs in important points from the mass which re mainsin the retort. I have devised apparatus by which the mixing of the particles thus arrested with the mass of crude material in the retort is avoided.

I conduct the arrested particles into one or more smaller vessels or retorts arranged near the main retort and favorably conditioned to receive a gentle heat by which the contents may be evaporated. The volatile portion is led away to a condenser. The denser portion of the separated product thus treated is drawn off either continuously or at intervals. Instead of a series of traps divided by a considerable'space, as shown in my former patent, I employ a single vessel of considerable height tapered from the lower end upward, so as to present favorable surfaces over which water may flow. A single reservoir at the top receives water, which is allowed to llow in a thin sheet, or any other convenient form, down the exteriorof the vessel. It is arrested in an annular chamber provided around the bottom and led away. The vapors in rising through this vessel are passed successively through contracted apertures in a succession of hori- Zent-al plates or platforms. The arrested particles are allowed to return from stage to stage within this single chamber, and the vaf por, becoming more and more perfectly separated from the unevaporated material, is discharged from the top, the conditions being similar to my former apparatus in the fact of the same water being used as a cooling medium at all the stages, the rising vapor meeting the water at first in its warmest conditions and at the successive stages encountering it at a lower temperature.

It has been found of advantage to introduce the vapor of water-steamto mingle with the 55 hydrocarbon vapors and liquids to be afterward separated from the refined product. I employ means for effecting this at several stages in the progress of my vapors.

My improved apparatus is intended to sepa- 6o rate more completely petroleum and analogous oils into the desired grades with a more than usual degree of perfection, and to treat large quantities continuously and rapidly.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification, and represent what I eon- Sider the best means of carrying out the invention.

Figure l is a longitudinal section; Fig. 2, a transverse section. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sec- 7e tion on the line y y in Fig. l, on a larger scale; and Fig. I is a cross-section on a larger scale. This figure corresponds to Fig. 3, but with some of the parts omitted.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspending parts in all the figures.

A is the main retort, set in masonry, and exposed to the heat of a furnace below. It will be understood-that any ordinary or suitable means are employed for regulating the 8O heat applied to this and to the other portions of the apparatus which are exposed to the action of the fire.

B B are pipes of liberal size, leading upward and obliquely toward each other from two S5 points in the upper portion of the retort. They deliver the vapor with the material carried therewith into the upper portion of a chamber, E, in which the first part of the separation of the unevaporated particles is 9o effected. The end of each is equipped with a broad plate, B,which extends upward and downward, and aids to arrest circulation and induce a quiescent condition of the vapor after its delivery in the chamber against a hollow partition, F, which extends across the upper portion of the interior of chamber F. This hollow partition F performs four important functions: first, of mechanically arresting all unevaporated material, the particles being 10a projected against it by their momentum, and adhering to it and trickling down; second,

' arresting and limiting the vigor of the cireu` volatile elements in its contents without redrop from the lower edge.

lation of the vapor, so as to induce the quiescent condition whichis favorable to the complete separation of the unevaporated particles; third, cooling the vapor projected against it,- and thereby condensing the most volatile portion; and, fourth, forming within the partition F a chamber in which an exactly uniform' temperature is maintained by the constant impact of the hot vapor on the exterior, in which chamber the unevaporated liquid descending from'above may find a liberal supply of heat to insure the evaporation and rise of the portions which are sufficiently volatile to evaporate at that temperature, while those portions which are not sufficiently volatile descend and This action is due to the fact that the vapors fresh from the retort which rise through the pipes B and are vprojected i n two strong currents against the hollow partition F are hotter than the vapors which have traversed the chambers above, and are especially hotter than the material descending through F. My arrangement insures a just sufficient addition of moderate heat to F to enable it to re-evaporate the evaporating the denser elements.

The unevaporated portions, either separated from the vapor in its rstreception into E or returned into it through the hollow partition F, collect in the bottom of E. Instead of transmitting them from thence back into the main retort or still A, to mingle with the crude material there contained, I lead them down through pipes G, one at eachside, which communicate, respectively, with side chambers or subretorts, II, arranged within the same furnace, and exposed lto thedesired amount of heat. In this they are redistilled, the volatile portions rising through a pipe, I, and flowing away to a condenser, which may be of any ordinary or suitable construction,in which they are reduced to a liquid form, and either with or without further treatment subsequently barreled or otherwise stored.

J are pipes controlled by valves j. Through these the unevaporated material is drawn from the snbretorts H either constantly or at intervals. This may be subsequently treated in the main still A, or other suitable apparatus, to further separate its constituents, if desired.

K are pipes leading from the sub-retorts into the upper portion of the main still A. These are controlled by valves k, and may be opened at intervalsl to afford a free communication between these parts when desired. The volal tile products from these side chambers or subretorts procured by condensing the vapor rising through the pipe I are illuminatingoils of great density and high illuminating powers,.corresponding to what is generally known in the trade as signal-oil.7 The vapors which rise through the chamber E and are treated in the upper portions of the apparatus are of a lighter and more volatile character. They produce the kerosenes, naphthas,

and other light oils. The separations to which these materials are subjected may be more or less extended. I will represent apparatus for separating once before the vapors rise into what I term the bell, corresponding to the seriesof traps in the former apparatus.

L are pipes of suitable capacity leading from the two chambers into which the casing E is almost completely divided by the hollow partition F. The vaporrising through these is discharged into the upper portionof a casing, M, being discharged against a central partition, N, therein, which extends from the top downward nearly but not quite to the bottom. This partition need not be hollow. It does not serve as ameans for leading down unevaporated material; bntit performs an im- Y portant function in presenting a suitablesurface to arrest the particles of liquid which still remain mechanically suspended or otherwise carried along Ain the vapor. It also aids to check the motion of the vapor and reduce it to the quiescent condition which is desirable for the further separation of the unevaporated parts. All the liquid material here arrested, as also that which trickles down from the apparatus above, to be presently described, is led'down through the hollow partition F into the base of' E, and is led into the side chambers, as before described. The vapor, now pretty effectually separated from particles of unevaporated liquid, rises through the two pipes O and joins into one, I); There are some conditions under which this vapor may be condensed and stored without further treatment. \Vhen this is desired, I close the valve 19 and open a valve, q, controlling apipe, Q, which extends laterally from this part of the appa Another branch, controlled by a cock, s3, leads steam into the pipe Si. This should only be used when the cock q is open. usually be preferred, the vapor is to be further treatcd to separate the denser and discharge only the lighter portions, the valve q is kept closed and the valve p open. these conditions the vapor rises from Pinto the bell WV, where it passes a series of horizontal partitions,Y. The vapor traverses successively through short pipes Y, extending upward from each. Theliquid condensed in the bell at the several stages gathers on the upper" surfaces of these partitions, and descends through pipes Y2, which extend a little distance downward fromthe several parti? tions. The liquid thus obtained gathers in the bottom of the bell, and may, if desired, be led away through a pipe (not represented) to be stored or further treated. I prefer, for

Under i IIO When, as may general purposes, to return this liquid and mingle it with the particles mechanically separated below. All will be properly separated in the side chambers, II.

The condensation in the bell is effected by water presented to the exterior. The upper edge of the bell has a rim. IV, into which water flows through a pipe, U, controlled by a cock, a. The upper edge of this rim should be maintained exactly level, so that the water will flow over uniformly and trickle down on the exterior. Provisions maybe made, if desired, for compelling this water to traverse spirally. It bathes the exterior of the bell. On its first introduction into the reservoir on the top of the bell its temperature is low. In its moving in a thin sheet over the exterior of the bell it becomes raised in temperature; but it is still capable of effecting some condensing of the volatile vapors in the lower portion of the bell. The whole surface is effective for condensation.

VZ is a lip or rim encompassing the bottom of the bell.

X is a pipe which leads away the water arrested thereby, and conveys it to a tank or drain. (Not represented.)

The unevaporated vapors rising from the bell flow through a pipe, Z, to a condenser. rIlhe product is more uniformly conditioned by reason of its having been subjected to successively cooler surfaces in the bell, and having correspondingly parted by fractional distillation with its most easily condensableportions.

One advantage due to my combination and arrangement of the apparatus is, that I get a larger proportion of dense oil and get it more completely separated both from the lighter elements and from the denser-the parafline and tar. This is due largely to the action in my side chambers or sub-retorts, H, and the passages connecting these with the other parts; but it is also due in part to the favorable conditions for separating in the hollow partition F.

I am aware of the patent to A. Millochau, No. 53,167, dated March 13, 1866, for condensing a portion of the vapor from an outer still and carrying the liquid thereby obtained into an inner still to be further treated; and also of the patent to T. McGowan, dated May 16, 1882, No. 257,961, in which condensed portions are returned first toa retort outside and afterward transferred to the main retort. I do not claim, broadly, the returning of condensed products to a different chamber from the first or main retort.

Modifications maybe made in the forms and Vproportions ofthe apparatus without departing from the principle or sacrificing the advantages of the invention.

I can duplicate or triplicate or otherwise increase the extent ot' the surfaces and the volume of the chambers or easings. Provisions may be made for separately taking away the liquids gathered on the several horizontal partitions Y in the bell.

I can dispense with the provisions for introd ucing steam at some of the poi nts represented. I attach importance to the introduction of `steam at the several stages for its well-known separate lire for heating it instead of, as shown,

exposing it inthe same furnace as the main retort. I can provide screens or other devices for varying the relative temperatures of the retorts. I propose under some circumstances to inclose a chamber corresponding to the subretort H in the interior' of the main retort A, providing the connections, as here shown, for leading away the vaporized portion and draining off the unevaporated either constantly or at intervals. Such au arrangement offers advantages in the uniformity of the heat which it would receive, being transi'nitted through the medium of the general contents of the main retort; but, on the other hand, the sub-retort exposed to direct heat outside can act more efficient-ly. I prefer the arrangement shown. I propose under some circumstances to employ two or more of the chambers E,with their hol` low partitions F mounted one above another.

It may be l In such case the drippings from the uppermost will descend, protected by the sides of the partition from any disturbance, through the chamber below, and thus be transmitted from one to another, as many as may be desired. In cach the descending liquid will be inelosed within walls of a slightly higher temperature under conditions eminently favorable to a delicate separation, the parts which are more volatile separating and rising, while the parts which are less volatile continue their descent.

It will be understood that any ordinary or suitableprovisionsmaybe employed forgraduating the heat in the furnace and for attaining all the ordinary adjustments. The introduction of the crude material and the discharge ofthe unevaporated portions from the main retort maybe conducted in the ordinary manner.

I claim as my invention* 1. In a distilling apparatus, the combination ofthe main retort A, sub-retorts II, asuitrable furnace for heating the Sallie, the chamber E, seated thereon, a pipe connecting the bottom of the chamber l1] with the sub-retort, and pipes for leading olf the vapors from theretort and sub-retort, substantially as described.

2. In a distilling apparatus, the c0mbination of the main retort A, sub-retorts H, and means for heating the same, the pipes K, con necting the sub-retorts with the main retort, suitable controlling means, as the valves r, for said pipes, the chamber E, the pipes B, connecting this chamber with the main retort, and pipes G, connecting said chamber with the sub-rctorts, all arranged to operate as herein specified.

3. In a distilling apparatus', the combination ofthe retort A, means for heatingthe same,

chamber E, seated thereon, pipes B B, connecting the retort A and the chamber E, and partition-piates B B', extending from the top and across said chamber nearly to the bottom thereof, forming three chambers therein and receiving the pipes B B, the return-passage, the chamber M abovethe chamber E and connectedtherewith by means of the vapor-pipes L L, and-partition N, extending from the top `ot' said chamber across the same and nearly to the bottom, all substantially as described.

4. In a distiliing apparatus, the combination of the retort A, sub-retorts H, and chamber E, connected as described, and means for heating,` the same, the steam-pipe S, with branches` 

